International Day of People with Disabilities

December 3^rd marks International Day of People with Disabilities, a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities and increasing public awareness, understanding, and acceptance. Here in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine signed Executive Order 2019-03D moments after taking the oath of office, establishing Ohio as a Disability Inclusion State and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities.

 

Working empowers Ohioans with disabilities to live independently and to participate in and contribute to their communities. When barriers to work are present, assistive technology and creative solutions are key to removing these and creating an equitable workplace. Access to assistive technology such as screen readers, mobility devices, memory aids, and listening devices can level the playing field and enable people with disabilities to participate in meaningful and purposeful activities, such as work.

 

Staff at the state agency Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) stay up to date on the latest information and resources involving assistive technology so that individual needs can be met in the workplace. We also partner with others, such as Assistive Technology of Ohio, to provide training and equipment for OOD participants.

 

OOD also regularly works with employers to identify practical solutions for providing an inclusive workplace. Whether offering guidance for straightforward accommodations or outside-the-box thinking, we support businesses in hiring qualified individuals with disabilities and retaining their valued workers who experience onset disabilities.

 

This International Day of People with Disabilities, we celebrate the theme “transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world.” Technology and creative solutions help ensure Ohioans with disabilities can fulfill their employment goals.